History Film / MontyPythonsLifeofBrian

** The disparate Jewish sects agitating against the Romans really were as divided in real life as they were depicted in this film.

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** The disparate Jewish sects agitating against the Romans really were as divided in real life as they were depicted in this film. John Cleese, a former Latin teacher, most likely knew enough about Roman history to know this.

* ShownTheirWork: They managed to get a lot of historical details right in the film, not surprising since a historian (Creator/TerryJones) directed it. For instance, Brian being the bastard son of a Roman soldier in fact mirrors an ancient anti-Christian claim about Jesus, as found in the writings of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celsus Celsus]] and others.** When it comes to the controversy about the film, it rapidly becomes clear that the Pythons know what they're talking about a lot more than the MoralGuardians do.

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* ShownTheirWork: They managed to get a lot of historical details right in the film, not surprising since a historian (Creator/TerryJones) directed it. For instance, Brian being the bastard son of a Roman soldier in fact mirrors an ancient anti-Christian claim about Jesus, as found in the writings of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celsus Celsus]] and others.** When it comes to the controversy about the film, it rapidly becomes clear that the Pythons know what they're talking about a lot more than the MoralGuardians do.** The disparate Jewish sects agitating against the Romans really were as divided in real life as they were depicted in this film.

* UngratefulBastard: Jesus managed to heal a leper (played by Michael Palin) of his leprosy. Still unemployed however, people are less willing to give an unemployed "ex-leper" change than they would a regular leper. He then [[TheTheoremOfNarrowInterests complains]] about Brian not giving him much when he concedes and ''does'' give him money.-->'''Ex-Leper:''' Half a dinare for me bloody life story?\\'''Brian:''' There's no pleasing some people.\\'''Ex-Leper:''' That's just what Jesus said, sir. * UngratefulTownsfolk: Inspite of everything the Romans have brought to Judea, some of the townsfolk still want them gone, multiple rebellion groups forming out of their hatred for the Romans (and each other). This is even hilariously lampshaded in the film.-->'''Reg:''' They've bled us white, the bastards. They've taken everything we had, not just from us, from our fathers and from our fathers' fathers... [and] what have they ever given us in return?\\'''Xerxes:''' The aqueduct.\\'''Reg:''' Oh yeah, yeah they gave us that. Yeah. That's true.\\'''Masked Activist:''' And Sanitation.\\'''Stan:''' Oh yes... sanitation, Reg, you remember what the city used to be like.\\'''Reg:''' All right, I'll grant you that the aqueduct and the sanitation are two things that the Romans have done...\\'''Matthias:''' And the roads...\\'''Reg:''' Well yes obviously the roads... the roads go without saying. But apart from the aqueduct, the sanitation and the roads...\\'''Another Masked Activist:''' ...irrigation?\\'''Other Masked voices:''' Medicine... Education... Health...\\'''Reg:''' Yes... all right, fair enough...\\'''Activist Near Front:''' ...and the wine...\\'''Omnes:''' Oh yes! True\\'''Francis:''' Yeah. That's something we'd really miss if the Romans left, Reg.\\'''Masked Activist At Back:''' Public Baths!\\'''Stan:''' ''And'' it's safe to walk in the streets at night now.\\'''Francis:''' Yes, they certainly know how to keep order... let's face it, they're the only ones who could in a place like this.\\'''Reg:''' All right... all right... but apart from better sanitation and medicine and education and irrigation and public health and roads and a freshwater system and baths and public order... what have the Romans done for us?\\'''Xerxes:''' Brought Peace!\\'''Reg:''' What!? Oh... Peace, yes... shut up!

* ShoutOut: The title theme is quite similar to the one for ''Film/{{Goldfinger}}''.

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* ShoutOut: ShoutOut: ** A 'Judith' is an impressively dense patch of pubic hair, according to the 'Roger's Profanisaurus' section of ''Comics/{{Viz}}'' magazine.** The title song is, stylistically, quite similar to the title song of ''{{Film/Goldfinger}}''.** The title theme is quite similar to the one for ''Film/{{Goldfinger}}''.

** In one specific example, the beginning of the movie features a ceremony where a man who used the Lord's name in vain is about to be stoned to death ("All I said was 'that bit of halibut is good enough for Jehovah'!"). However, except for Brian all of the people attending the stoning are women... who, in that women are not permitted to participate in the stoning, are breaking the Jewish religious law just as much as the poor sod they're about to stone to death.*** [[DeathByIrony Ironically, it's the priest that's running the execution who ends up getting stoned to death]].

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** In one specific example, the beginning of the movie features a ceremony where a man who used the Lord's name in vain is about to be stoned to death ("All I said was 'that bit of halibut is good enough for Jehovah'!"). However, except for Brian all of the people attending the stoning are women... who, in that women are not permitted to participate in the stoning, are breaking the Jewish religious law just as much as the poor sod they're about to stone to death.*** [[DeathByIrony Ironically, it's death.[[note]][[DeathByIrony It's actually the priest that's running the execution who ends up getting stoned to death]].[[/note]]

* OverwhelmingException: One of the more well known instances of this trope. When Reg and company are trying to stir people up against the Romans, he [[RhetoricalQuestionBlunder asks what the Romans have ever done for them]]. He soon winds up with a very long list indeed, but keeps trying to get people going.-->All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh-water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?

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